LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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P^ICE 20 CB]55f^ 



How TO Buy 

A HORSE 

A TREATISE 

NOTiCE. 

Copies of tl' ' u 

' ^ ■l"S(ntp„sl-paidl,vmail.to 

.:'"y -f-^^ 'n tlurCnm States on rca.pt of tkc pri^^^ 
Address all orders to 

-iOHN YONKERMAN&SON, 

Veterinary Surgeons 
5Sand57HAvwARnST.,Ci.KVE.,,,^OHxo. 
^ B,~~All letters of inquiry answered free on 

BY D. P. YONKER 

— ^?vN OF COiV(^.^ 






CLEVELAND, OHICH^>'op w^-'M^^ " 

HARTLEY & HYNES, PRINTERS, I7, 19 AND 21 mCI^ STREET. 
1879. 



.Y4 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1879, 

By D. p. Yonkerman, 

in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at 
Washington, D. C. 

RIGHT OF TRANSLATION RESERVED. 



CONTENTS. 



Properties and qualities of a good horse . i 

The teeth as charcterizing the age of a horse 3 

How to examine a horse .... 7 

Jockey tricks . . . . . 11 

Special points in horses . . . ,12 

The color of horses . . . . 19 

The trial of horses ..... 24 

On soundness and unsoundness . . 25 

Vices ....... 30 

Warranties ...... 31 



Glanders 



35 



Glossary ...... 41 



PREFACE. 



In writing this book it has been my object to 
condense, what in other works of a similar nature 
has been dwelt on to a considerable length, and to 
give to the public a small book and one that will 
come within the reach of all, which will instruct 
its readers and protect them against the deceptions 
now so extensively carried on in the purchase and 
sale of horses, and by the aid of which a man com- 
paratively ignorant of horse-flesh can purchase 
a horse with perfect safety, and pick from any 
number that horse which is best suited for his 
purpose, without any danger of being imposed 
upon. Also to give to the public the best mode 
of ascertaining whether a horse is glandered or 
not. In treating of this disease I give the manner 
of detecting it in its first and second stages or what 
are generally known as its "deceptive stages," 



VI 



when they are still sold to the unwary as sound . 
This is often done unintentionally by the dealer, 
he himself not knowing the horse to be infected 
with this loathsome disease. But by giving a sure 
and simple test for the detection of this disease, a 
person will guard against the purchase of such an 
animal, and thus guard against the spread of it 
among his own stock. On the other hand the 
dealer finding himself unable to sell the animal 
will either have to destroy him or keep him, and 
by doing the latter run a risk, which but few 
men are wilHng to incur, for it is a well established 
fact that many men have lost their lives through 
handling a glandered horse by getting the virus 
into their blood. 

Having long felt the public demand for a proper 
mode of detecting this disease, I shall confine my- 
self to that and not enter into any long and 
speculative theory upon the subject as to its origin, 
spread, past and present conditions, &c., but, 
instead, give only the mode of its detection, which, 
heretofore, has been known to but few except the 
regular practitioner, knowing that, by putting the 
means into the hands of the public, they are fully 



VII 

capable of protecting themselves ; and, knowing 
of no better way, I have adopted this method of 
spreading the desired information, including at 
the same time all that is of importance to the 
purchaser and owner of a horse in a plain, simple 
manner, carefully avoiding all technicalities which 
tend only to embarrass and confuse the reader. 

If this little book only meets the present demand, 
I shall feel fully recompensed in having been able 
to benefit those into whose possession it may fall. 

D. P. Y. 



PROPERTIES AND QUALITIES 

OF A 

GOOD HORSE. 



A good horse has fifty-four properties, that is to 
say, two of a man, two of a badger, four of a lion, 
nine of an ox, nine of a hare, nine of a fox, nine 
of an ass, and ten of a woman. They are expressed 
by some as follows: *'A large, black, smooth, dry, 
round and hollow hoof, short and straight pasterns, 
straight and flat legs, round, lean and bony knees, 
a long, high-reared neck, great towards the breast; 
sharp and upright ears ; a large and lean forehead ; 
large, full and black eyes; with the brows well 
filled and shooting upwards ; slender, lean, wide 
and open jaws ; a long mouth ; a large and lean 
head ; a thin mane ; withers sharp and pointed ; 
the back short, even and double chimed ; the 
sides and ribs deep, large and bearing out, and 
close shut at the knuckle bone ; the belly long and 



roomy, but hid under the ribs ; the flanks full but 
gaunt ; the rump round, plain and broad ; the 
thighs long and large, with well fashioned bones, 
and those well covered with flesh ; the hams dry 
and straight ; the truncheon small, long and well 
set ; the tail long, not too thick, and falling to the 
ground, and he should be well risen before." 

A good horse should also have the following 
qualities: three of a woman — a broad breast, round 
hips and a long mane; three of a lion — countenance, 
courage and fire ; three of a bullock — the eye, 
nostril and joints; three of a sheep — the nose, 
gentleness and patience; three of a muh — strength, 
constancy and foot; three of a detr — head, legs 
and short hair; three of a wolf — throat, neck and 
hearing; three of a fox — ear, tail and trot; three 
of a serpent — memory, sight and turning; and three 
of a hare — running, walking and suppleness. 

The senses of the horse are very acute and 
delicate, and his intellectual character is marked 
by a quick perception, an excellent memory and a 
benevolent disposition. Like man, some horses 
are highly courageous, others timid; some 
lively, playful and generous; whilst others are 



3 

stupid, obstinate and vicious. He is rarely found 
to exert his vast strength and activity to his 
master's prejudice; on the contrary he will endure 
fatigue even to death for his benefit. One of his. 
most eminent characteristics, is that his efforts are 
not made so much from fear of his master, as from 
a certain consciousness of the necessity for doing 
his duty, for the sake of the services he receives 
at the hand of man. 

The Teeth as Characterizing the age 
OF A Horse. 

The teeth of animals are formed or fitted for the 
the food upon which they live. There are three 
sorts of teeth : cutting teeth, canine teeth, and 
molar teeth. Man has thirty-two teeth, those in 
front are cutting teeth or incisors, those behind 
and with which he grinds his food are molar teeth 
and the sharp pointed ones on each side of the 
incisors are the canine teeth. 'J'he canine teeth 
are best seen in the mouth of the cat, the dog, the 
lion, and some others. In each jaw of a man there 
are four front teeth or incisors, two canine teeth 
(called eye teeth,) four small grinders and six 
hugh grinders, making in all sixteen teeth. Chil- 



4 

dren have but twenty teeth, at first, or ten in each 
jaw: they are called milk teeth because they appear 
for the most part while the child lives on milk. 
The teeth of the mole are fitted to crush the horny 
covering of insects and to gnaw the roots of 
plants where worms are found; while dogs 
cats, bears, and others of this family have teeth 
formed for cutthig the flesh on which they feed. 
The Greenland whale has no teeth, but fibrous 
horny plates, which are fringed and known as 
whalebone. Gnawing animals have two long 
teeth which project from each jaw and which 
have an edge like a chisel, while the horse and 
'the ass have to seize and crush the grass and 
grains on which they live. Man can tell from 
the teeth of an animal what its habits are. 
A Hon, with the teeth of a horse, could not 
subsist ; and a horse, with the teeth, of a lion would 
starve. The horse has six incisors or cutting 
teeth in the front of each jaw, and one canine 
tooth or tusk. On each side, above and below — 
at some distance from the incisors and behind 
the canine with some intervening space — are 
six molar teeth or grinders. The whole is thus 
thus represented by natural historians. 



HORSE — incisors ^\ canine i-i, molar |-|; total 40 teeth. 

A colt is usually foaled with six grinders 
in each jaw, three on each side. In ten or eleven 
days he puts out two nippers in front, above 
and below. In a fortnight after, the two middle 
ones appear, and in three months from this the 
corner nippers are pushed out. From this until he 
is a year old no great change takes place, except 
that the cavity in the nippers begins sHghtly to 
fill up and appear worn. He has likewise now 
four grinders on each side, above and below, — 
hree of the milk set and one permanent. At at 
year and a half the cavity in the nippers is nearly 
filled up, and he has now three milk, and two 
permanent grinders in each jaw, above and below. 

At two years, the marks in the nippers are 
wholly effaced, and they appear like the same teeth 
in an eight year old horse. At this time also the 
first milk grinders above and below fall out. When 
the colt is about two years and a half old the two 
front nippers fall out; and, as the permanent ones 
occupy considerable time in coming to perfection, a 
colt may experience some difficulty in grazing. 
Between the ages of three and a half and four years, 



6 

the two next nippers appear above and below. 
Six months later the two corner nippers fall out 
to give place to the last set. Soon after this the 
tusks appear; from this period he is no longer 
a colt but a horse, and the female colt, on the 
falling of the corner nippers drops the name of 
• fiilly, and assumes that of mare. 

At the age of five years, in a natural state the 
internal wall of the corner nippers is on a level 
with the rest, and the tusks completely come out. 
At six years, the black mark or cavity, in the 
front lower nippers, which was before wearing 
out is completely effaced. At seven years the 
same marks in the two next, or intermediate 
teeth, of the posterior jaw are likewise com- 
pletely worn out. At eight, the cavity in the 
lower corner teeth is lost. And now a horse is 
said to be aged. The following comparison was 
drawn between the ages of man and horse by 
M. Blaire. That is, at these several periods of 
comparison, the constitution of man and the horse 
may be considered in an equal degree of per- 
fection or decay according as age or youth 
preponderate ; Thus the first five years of a horse 



7 

may be considered as equivalent to the first twen- 
ty years of a man, i. e. that a horse of five years 
may be considered as old as a man of twenty. 
A horse of ten years, as a man of forty; a horse 
of fifteen years, as a man of fifty; a horse of 
twenty years, as a man of sixty; a horse of twenty- 
five years, as a man of seventy; a horse of thirty 
as a man of eighty; And a horse of thirty-five 
as a man of ninety. 

How TO Examine a Horse. 

The first thing to be attended to is the form 
of the animal. The head should be fine, and 
broad between the eyes and tapering towards the 
nose; the jaws, clean and not possessing too 
much flesh; the eyes full, sparkling and bright; 
the nostrils, large, open and of a clear red; 
the space underneath the jaws should be roomy 
and free from lumps or swellings, the ears small, 
set well into the head and pointing forward, the 
neck, well curved, lighdy-formed and rather 
muscular, also well arched beneath, /, e., at the 
union with the jaw ; the shoulders high and slop- 
ing; the withers of a medium breadth, and not 
too high, as it will be found that high withered 



8 

horses are narrow in the chest — a bad point, 
inasmuch as it does not allow sufficient room 
for the hmgs to play. The back should be 
short and a little arched across the loms ; 
the chest deep and ribs expanding, especially 
between the last rib and the hips so as to allow 
of a hollow betwixt them. The thighs should 
be muscular to the hocks, the fore legs muscular 
to the kn^e. and the feet nearly circular, gradually 
increasing as they descend towards the sole. 

The position of the legs or what is generally 
termed their "setting on" is a most important 
point. Viewing the horse in front, his legs should 
be nearly straight and his feet neither inclining 
to the right nor left. Feet turned outwards are 
very liable to cut and trip, and the action is seldom 
good or agreeable. 

Horses with an inward inclination are pigeon- 
toed, and have a labored action. The fore legs 
should be set well under the shoulder, affording 
ample support to it. Such as have their legs 
placed forward possess neither power nor action. 
The hind legs should either be straight from the 
hock downwards or have a slight inclination un- 
der the belly, but not too much. 



Be also particular about the crown of the head 
to ascertain if he has the poll-evil. Examine the 
nostrils, and, if there is a fetid discharge, he is 
glandered or otherwise affected with Nasal Gleet. 
To be sure of this, the nostrils should be pinched 
together for about a minute to prevent him from 
breathing, and, on removing the hand, he is sure 
to snort, which will blow out any matter if he is 
diseased. 

The tongue should also be looked at; examine 
the eyes for '* Gutta Serena " or blindness, see 
that the withers are not fistulous ; carefully exam- 
ine the knees, because a horse with broken knees 
must be suspected to be guilty of stumbling. See 
that there is no splint below the knee, or groggi- 
nessinthe region of the fetlock, or ringbones of the 
pasterns or thoroughpin of the hock joint. Attend 
to the hocks in case they are capped; see also 
that there is no symptom of curb, a little way be- 
low these points, Examine the inside of the hock 
in case of bone spavin; descend to the feet and see 
that there are no symptoms of grease. See that 
there does not exist sand crack in the horny sub- 
stance of the hoof, nor canker separating the horny 



10 

substance from the sensitive part of the foot. Be 
very particular about examining the teeth; take 
care that he has not been "bishoped;" or had a 
tooth extracted. A horse with an upright shoulder 
is more fitted for harness than riding ; and a slop- 
ing one is best adapted for riding from having 
generally better actioin and less of his own weight 
to sustain on his fore legs. Horses that stand 
with their hind legs much under them may be 
suspected to be diseased in the spine or kidneys, 
and should be carefully examined on these points. 
And while doing so, do not permit the dealer 
or his servant to hold up the horse by the bridle or 
to have him stand on rising ground. Dealers 
servants take care to bring horses to a stand on 
rising ground and thereby conceal any knuckling 
of the knees or pasterns, and will give a groggy 
animal all the appearance of soundness. To as- 
certain whether a horse is a roarer, piper, or whist- 
ler, place him with his side against a wall, or the 
side of a stall, take hold of the bridle near the 
mouth, and hold his head high; then then give 
him a smart blow in the ribs with your fist, and if 
he grunts at each blow he is a roarer, on the con- 



11 

trary if he dances about in consequence of the 
blows, sobbing and drawing in his breatli quick- 
ly, he is sure to be a whistler or a piper. But 
for testing all diseases of the lungs and air cells, 
nothing is better than a smart trot or gallop. 

In looking at the actions of a horse, see that 
his fore feet are lifted well, and that he com- 
pletely clears the ground, and throws his legs 
out freely, and lightly; in trotting, see that the 
horse does not lift his feet too high, and that 
he replaces them firmly and flatly on the ground, 
for if the toe first touches the ground he is liable 
to stumble or trip; if the shoe be examined, it 
will indicate the part which first comes to the 
ground, by being most worn down. 

Jockey Tricks. 

In almost every city or town in the country, 
there are to be found men who make it their 
business to buy and sell horses; they generally 
have a stable where from ten to twenty horses 
are kept for sale continually. These stables are 
of some benefit to the public, inasmuch as it 
enables a man who wishes to dispose of an 
animal, to do so without having to wait, perhaps. 



12 

for months before he can find a purchaser 
himself; when, by sending him to one of these, 
he is generally sold in a few days; and it also 
enables a man who wishes to buy a horse, to 
find among the number one likely to suit his 
purpose. ])Ut there is no place, where a man 
more needs the aid of an experienced friend or 
a sound judgment and knowledge of horseflesh 
than there. For it is not surprising, when we 
consider for a moment the relation in which the 
horse stands to man, and the vast amount he adds 
to his welfare and gain, as the servant of the mer- 
chant, mechanic, tradesman and professional man, 
as well as the pride of the gentleman, that there 
should be some wholesale swindling going on in 
this branch of business, as well as in some others 
of less importance to the public. But to say that 
there are no honest dealers would be a gross 
calumny. That there are few, hardly admits of 
dispute, for, unless the dealer gives his horse a 
character which he does not possess, he is pretty 
sure not to make a sale; accordingly, he often 
draws very heavily on his imagination. But some- 
times it does not conclude with this alone, for the 



13 

practice of some low and disreputable dealers, who, 
by trickery, contrive to hide any defects that the 
horse may possess, are too well known to need 
any enlarging upon. But, unfortunately, the tricks 
usually resorted to require a little experience to 
detect, and this but few men possess, save the 
veterinary and the dealer. The usual method of 
procedure adopted by this gang of swindlers and low 
dealers is to sell a man a '.' captain," as a horse with 
a nasal discharge is called; then, on his way home, 
or perhaps a time after, members of the gang 
approach and inform him of the horse being glan- 
dered, or otherwise affected, offering to take him 
off his hands for perhaps one-third the price for 
which he was bought, thus, in the end, gaining the 
horse as well as the man's money, only to repeat 
the trick on the next unwary purchaser, and in this 
way making a captain quite a lucrative animal to 
the gang. 

If a man finds himself so imposed upon, let him 
in no wise re-sell the animal, but examine him for 
the symptoms and apply the test as mentioned in 
another part of this book, and if he find him to be 
glandered, order him to be destroyed, and see that 



14 

the order is obeyed, and he will be saving the 
public, at least for a while, from the workings of 
this nefarious gang. 

The following contains a list of those tricks 
usually resorted to by some dealers : 

The first, and the one most frequently practiced, 
to which I wish to draw the reader's attention, is — 
BiSHOPiNG. This consists in filing down the wear- 
ing surface of the front incisor teeth of old horses, 
and giving them a young appearance, by graving 
hollows to resemble young teeth, after which a red- 
hot iron is applied, leaving an indelible black mark 
on the tooth. 

Beaning. — This is resorted to when a horse is 
but slightly lamed on one of his fore feet. It con- 
sists in paring thin the sole of the opposite fore 
foot, near the toe, and replacing the shoe, having 
first placed a small pebble beneath it. The effect 
produced by this operation renders the action of 
both fore legs nearly alike, and if properly done 
is seldom suspected or detected until after purchase. 

Roaring is sometimes suspended for a while by 
the aid of a drug, as is broken wind by dosing the 



15 

animal with shot, and tar, or grease, but these 
generally lose their effect upon giving the horse 
some water. 

Gypping. — White places, such as a star, stripe, 
or white hairs, as the result of previous injury to 
the skin, are dyed with colored solutions, which is 
recognized by the different shades employed, and 
the dissimilarity of color to that of the hair over 
the rest of the body. It will usually wash off or 
disappear with the subsequent growth of the hair. 

Plugging. — This is done to prevent a horse from 
discharging from the nostril. It consists of press- 
ing a piece of tow up the nostril to prevent the 
matter from escaping. It is easily detected by 
examining the nostril. 

Extracting a tooth from a young horse is often 
done to give him an older appearance. This can 
readily be detected by examining the upper teeth. 

Puffing. — In horses of a great age large depres- 
sions are found over the eyes. Puffing consists in 
their puncturing the skin and blowing out these 
depressions, which remain puffed out until the air 
is absorbed. Where this is suspected simply press 
over the eyes and the air will escape. 



16 

Stuffing. — This is done to a horse affected with 
a corn. It consists in paring the corn out and 
inserting in the hole a phig, cut out of the paring 
from anothet horse, so as to give the sole the 
appearance of being sound. 

A horse having a nervous disease is known by 
the term of " shiverer," and it is hidden for a time 
by the administration of an opiate. A horse affected 
with a kidney complaint, and known by the term 
of ''A Kidney Dropper," is generally given a dose 
of nitre, turpentine or resin to hide the defect_for 
a while. 

But even these by no means complete the cate- 
gory of defects which hang about the horse, for if 
the purchaser buys an animal which is neither 
broken-winded, bishoped, gypped, puffed, stuffed 
or glandered, he may have secured a more worth- 
less prize in the shape of a dangerous brute, that 
will shy at everything on the road, kick, and bite, 
plunge and rear, or run away, after the passions 
are relieved from the powerful drugs which have 
been used to depress the vital energy. 



17 

Special Points in Horses. 

In buying a horse the purchaser should see that 
the animal has the qualifications requisite for the 
purpose for which he is intended. If he wishes to 
buy a racer, hunter, roadster, or a coach-horse, he 
should see that his jaws are clean and wide, nos- 
trils large and open, 'shoulders broad and thin, 
thighs strong and muscular, chest full and deep, 
affording full play to the lungs. The back may 
be somewhat longer than in a horse intended for 
other purposes; ribs large and wide, tail coming 
out high and stiff, and the hind quarters should be 
lean and hard. 

A horse intended for riding should have an 
oblique shoulder, and a chest so formed as not to 
throw the weight too far forward. The back may 
be long, as this will render the paces easier ; it 
should be straight to the loins, and these should 
be broad and muscular, and well joined together — 
no depression being observed between them. 
There should, however, be a depression behind 
the withers, and these should be high. 

A horse intended for light draught ought to have 
a moderate-sized chest with considerable depth of 
girth; and in him a moderately short back is pre- 



ferable. There should also be a considerable angle 
between the shoulder blade and the lower bone, 
for, the greater the angle, the easier will be the 
motion and the more extended the stride. 

Horses intended for heavy draught should have 
an upright shoulder, and a broad, full chest, as 
they act more effectually on the collar, both from 
size and weight. An upright shoulder gives the 
horse additional weight to throw into the collar, 
as well as enabling him to press steadily on every 
part of it. The back should be short, as it will be 
more strong and compact, and yet allow sufficient 
ease to the pace. The hips ought to be round. 

Every farmer who breeds horses for his own use 
or the market, should at the outset possess himself 
of a well formed, powerfully built, finely bred 
mare — standing at least fifteen and a half hands 
high, and weighing not less than twelve hundred 
pounds in ordinary condition ; and he should breed 
this mare to a thoroughbred horse of good pedigree, 
good form and depth of body, standing on short, 
powerful and sound limbs, at least sixteen hands 
high, and weighing not less than twelve hundred 
pounds. If the mare is reasonably well bred, he 
may expect from the union of these a fine animal. 



19 

The Color of Horses. 

The color of the hair exhibits every variety, and 
hke that of the skin, is influenced by, or depends 
upon, the mucous meshwork under the cuticle. 

White Horses. — There are comparatively few- 
white horses now remaining. The w^hite palfrey 
originally from Spain or Barbary, and rarely ex- 
ceeding the size of a galloway, is nearly extinct. 
Such horses are good in their paces. The majori- 
ty of white horses are those that have gradually 
become so. Light gray colts begin to grow white 
before they are five ^ears old, especially if they 
have not much dark hair about the joints. 

Gray Horses. — Gray horses are of different 
shades, from the lightest silver gray to a dark iron 
gray. The silver gray reminds the observer of the 
palfrey, improved by an admixture of Arab blood. 
He does not often exceed fourteen and a half 
hands in height, and is best calculated for a light 
carriage or for a lady's riding. He is seldom sub- 
ject to disease, but is not very fast, or capable of 
hard w^ork. 

The iron gray is usually a larger horse, and in 
many cases a little too long in the legs. They are 
principally used for the carriage, and have gener- 



20 

ally more endurance than the flatness of their chest 
would indicate. 

The dappled gray is generally a handsomer, and 
a better horse; and whether as a hack, or the 
larger variety as a carriage horse, there are few 
that excel them. There are not, however, so 
many dappled grays as there used to be. The 
dappled gray, if dark at first, generally retains his 
color to old age. Some of the grays approach to 
a nutmeg, or even to a bay, color, and are com- 
monly handsome and hardy. 

Roans. — The color of the roan is of every 
variety — composed of white, mixed with black, 
red, or bay. In some it seems to be a natural mix- 
ture, but in others it appears as if one color was 
sprinkled over another. They are pretty horses 
for ladies, or light carriages, and many of them are 
easy in their paces, but they are not much cele- 
brated for endurance. It has also been found that 
if they have white fore legs with white hoofs they 
are often tender-footed, or become so with a litde 
hard work. 

The Strawberry. — The strawberry color is a 
mixture of sorrel and white, usually handsome and 



21 

agreeable, but not always found combined with 
power or endurance. 

The Pied. — The pied horse is one that has 
distinct spots or patches of different colors, but 
usually of white, with some other color ; they look 
well in a light carriage or a phaeton. They possess 
no particular character except that a white foot in 
them is suspicious, as in a roan. 

The Dun. — The larger size is a true farmer's 
or miller's horse, with no great speed or extraordi- 
nary strength, yet a good tempered, good-feeding, 
good-constitutioned and useful horse. The smaller, 
or the galloway size, with a darker or dappled 
color, are beautiful animals, and much sought after 
for light carriages. 

The Cream. — The cream color with his white 
iris and red pupil is appropriate for the gentleman's 
use. Attached to a carriage, he is a splendid 
animal, but he is not very well adapted for other 
purposes. 

Chestnuts. — Of these there are three varieties. 
First, the pale red or sorrel, usually with some 
white hairs either on the face or legs. This color 
is somewhat objectionable, and they are supposed 



to be somewhat deficient in endurance; yet some 
of them are bulky enough for the heaviest loads. 
Secondly, the light chestnut v/ith less red and a 
little more bay or brown. This is considered a 
preferable animal, especially if he has little or no 
white about him, but even he, although pleasant 
to ride, is sometimes irritable and generally weak. 
Thirdly, the dark chestnut, who is altogether a 
different horse from the hackney-like chestnut. 
He, unlike the others, is possessed of great endur- 
ance and a constitution that hardly knows an 
ailment. 

Bays. — Of these there are many varieties, and 
they include the best of our horses of every descrip- 
tion. The bright yellow bay, although very 
beautiful, and especially if his mane and tail are 
long and black, is the least valuable, for he seems 
to have a tenderness of constitution. The pure 
bay with no white about him, and black from the 
knees and hocks to the feet, is the most desirable 
of all. He has generally a good constitution and 
good feet, and if his conformation is not faulty, 
will turn out a valuable horse for almost every 
purpose. 



23 

Browns. — Of these there are two kinds — the 
bay-brown, who has not always so much show and 
action, but has generally more strength, endurance 
and usefulness. The black-brown is more neg- 
lected as regards breeding, but he is valuable if he 
retains the goodness and constitution of the bay- 
brown. 

Black. — Of these greater care has been taken. 
The large, heavy black is a noble animal, and 
would be very high-priced if he could be rendered 
more active. The next in size constitute the 
majority of our wagon horses, and, perhaps, our 
best ; their peculiar high action, while not objec- 
tionable for draught, and desirable for parade, 
would be unbearable in a roadster. Black horses 
. have been said to be more subject to vice, disease 
and blindness than those of any other color. This 
charge is not true to its full extent, but there are 
certainly a great many worthless black horses in 
every part of the country. After all, there is an old 
saying that "a good horse cannot be off color." 
True, it is far more necessary to attend to the 
conformation and points of the animal than the 
color. The above mentioned observations, how- 



24 

ever, although they admit of many exceptions, 
may aid in the judicious purchase of a horse. 

The Trial of Horses. 

The trial of a horse at the time of sale often 
leads to a dispute between the purchaser and the 
dealer, although the law is quite clear on this 
point. The intending purchaser is only liable for 
damage done to the horse through his mismanage- 
ment. The seller, however, may put what 
restrictions he chooses on the trial, and he then 
takes all risks of accident in the fair use of the 
horse within such restrictions. 

The fraudulent practice of some dealers in 
giving their horses, by overfeeding, a false appear- 
ance of muscular substance, leads to the ruin of 
many a valuable animal. If a horse from a dealer's 
stable is driven far and fast, he, in nine cases out 
of ten, soon shows distress; and, if pushed farther, 
inflammation and death may ensue. The dealer 
rarely gets recompensed for this, and I don't know 
that he should, as he knows the unfitness of his 
horse, and may thank himself for having permitted 
such a trial, however disastrous may be the result. 



25 

On Soundness and Unsoundness. 

There are few sources of greater annoyance, 
both to the purchaser and the seller of a horse, 
than disputes with regard to his soundness, although 
it has been the endeavor of several authors and 
writers on the horse to determine just what 
diseases or alteration of structure constitute 
unsoundness. But, up to the present time, the 
various opinions of judges, and of several authors 
have been so unsetded, that no firm bass seems 
to have been reached. But all admit that horse 
to be sound in whom there is no disease or altera- 
tion of structure that does impair, and is not likely 
to impair his natural usefulness. But the term 
" natural usefulness " must be understood. One 
horse may possess great speed, but no power of 
endurance. Another will work all day but cannot 
be urged beyond a slow pace. One with a heavy 
forehead is liable to stumble. Another, with an 
irritable constitution and washy make, loses his 
appetite and begins to scour, if a little extra work is 
exacted from him. The term unsoundness cannot 
be applied to any of these ; it has reference only to 
disease or alteration of structure. But any of the 
following defects will constitute an unsound horse : 



26 

Broken knees, only when they interfere with the 
action of the joints, or if they cause the horse to 
stumble. 
. Bog or blood spavins. 

Bone spavin, although not necessarily causing 
lameness, constitutes unsoundness. 

Contraction of the feet is generally considered 
unsoundness, though in some cases it does not 
mterfere with the action of the horse. A special 
warranty, however, should be taken. 

Capped hocks, if caused by lying down or by 
kicking, does not constitute unsoundness, but if 
caused by a sprain or an injury, accompanied by 
enlargement of the hock, would constitute unsound- 
ness. A special warranty should be taken against 
capped hocks. 

Corns constitute unsoundness. 

Cough — This is caused by disease and is conse- 
quently unsoundness. A horse, therefore, with a 
cough, should never be purchased without a special 
warranty. 

Roaring, wheezing, high-blowing and grunting, 
all being the result of alteration of structure or 
disease of some of the air passages, constitute 
unsoundness. 



27 

Crib-biting, although simply a trick or bad habit, 
must be considered unsoundness, for, as soon as 
a horse acquires the habit of cribbing, he, in nine 
cases out of ten, loses condition and becomes pre- 
disposed to colic. 

Curb constitutes unsoundness while it lasts. A 
horse is not returnable, however, although he 
spring a curb five minutes after purchase^ for it is 
done in a moment and is no proof of former 
unsoundness or weakness. 

Cutting constitutes unsoundness, if lame at the 
time of sale. 

Enlarged hock is unsoundness whether the horse 
is lame at the time of sale or not. 

Enlarged glands — Authorities seem to differ on 
this point, but if the glands at the root of the ear 
are enlarged and the inside lining of the nostril is 
redder than usual, one should hesitate before pro- 
nouncing that horse sound. 

Ossification, as it interferes with the natural 
expansion of the foot, is unsoundness. 

Ophthalmia, if it can be proven to have existed 
before purchase, and comes on soon after. 

Pumiced foot is unsoundness. 



28 

Quidding, while it lasts, is unsoundness. 

Quittor is unsoundness. 

Ringbone, in any degree, is unsoundness. 

Rupture of any kind is unsoundness. 

Sandcrack is manifestly unsoundness. It may 
occur without any warning, and no horse can be 
returned on account of having sprung one after 
purchase. 

Splint, if interfering with the action, constitutes 
unsoundness. 

Stringhal'. is manifestly unsoundness. 

Thickening of the back sinews — A horse so 
afflicted cannot strictly be called sound, as the 
thickening of the cellular substance in which the 
sheaths are enveloped is long afterwards liable to 
sprain or injury from causes which would not 
otherwise affect it. In examining for thickening 
of the back sinews, allowance must be made for some 
horses who are naturally gummy or round, about 
the legs. To establish thickening of the sinews, one 
leg should be perceptibly larger than the other. 

Thoroughpin ; scarcely ever produces lameness 
unless very large and it then constitutes unsound- 
ness, but otherwise a horse with thoroughpin may 
be bought with a special warranty. 



29 

Thrush has also been a disputed point but I be- 
lieve it is now generally admitted to be unsound- 
ness, for thrush may be the out breaking of any 
disease. 

Windgalls; constitute unsoundness only when 
they cause lameness. 

The following contains a list of those diseases 
and accidents which are generally not considered 
sufficient to constitute their possessors unsound : 

Broken knees ; if not interfering with the action. 

Curby Hocks. 

Capped Hocks, if caused by lying on an un- 
evenly paved stable or from kicking. 

If caused by the latter, it would be more of an ev- 
idence of vice. 

Contraction in a slight degree only. 

Splint, unless interfering with the action. 

Thoroughpin ; unless it causes lameness. 

Windgalls; there are few horses free from these 
and they do not constitute unsoundness unless 
causing lameness. That horse is unsound in whom 
there is disease or alteration of structure that does 
impair, or is likely to impair, his natural useful- 
ness. 



30 

Vices. 

Many horses are sold on account of some 
vicious habit which they have acquired, or on ac- 
count of natural ferocity, and a horse with a 
vicious propensity is more easily pahiied off to the 
unwary than any other, for he usually exhibits a 
freshness that most purchasers admire notwith- 
standing the drugs that may have been adminis- 
tered. But their admiration frequently turns to 
fear when after having used the animal they find 
him as fresh to kick, bolt, bite or shy, as he was 
to appear handsome during the trial. 

There are many habits that some horses acquire 
that do not amount to vice, but which are never- 
theless disagreeable; for instance, some horses 
have the habit of getting the check of the bit into 
the mouth thus giving them entire control over the 
driver who immediately loses all command; an- 
other may be restless, while being cleaned ; and a 
third may be continually pawing in the stable. And 
there are still several other faults ofa similar nature; 
but, as these may be overcome by gentleness or a 
mechanical contrivance, they are not considered 



31 

sufficient ground for the return of the animal, un- 
less carried to such an extent as to amount to 
actual vice. 

But the following contains a list of those vices 
which will render their possessors returnable : 

Biting when practised to an unusual degree. 

Cribbing. 

Kickmg when excessive. 

Rearing. 

Restiveness, or refusal to go in the desired di- 
rection. 

Bolting, or running away. 

Shying when excessive. 

Weaving in the stable. 

Warranties. 

When a purchaser buys a horse he usually has 
embodied in the receipt a warranty, which should 
be expressed as follows : 

Date. 
Received of A. B. one hundred doUa7's for a 
bay mare^ warranted only six years old, sound, free 
from vice, and quiet to ride and drive. 

$100.00 C. D. 



It will be seen that the above warranty covers 
all diseases that can be detected or that lurk in 
the constitution at the time of sale. Also any vice 
or alteration of structure that will impair his 
natural usefulness, including also color, age, and 
quietness to ride and drive. 

A warranty that an animal is sound has no ref- 
erence to the age, to freedom from vice, and 
quietness to ride and drive which should be spec- 
ially mentioned. The above warranty is also sub- 
ject to modification; for instance, a horse may be 
warranted a good hack or hunter, in which case 
he must fairly answer the description ; or, he may 
be warranted on any one point. But the terms 
"has been hunted, " or ''has carried a lady, " are 
not to be relied upon, as it is only necessary to 
prove in defense that he has seen hounds, or had 
a lady on his back. No price will imply a warran- 
ty or be equal to one ; there must be an express 
warranty and that must be taken at the time of 
sale. A warrant, or the promise of a warrant 
given at any time after the sale is invalid, for 
the constitution of a horse may undergo a very de- 
cided change in a few days. A warranty given 



33 

after the timg of sale is invalid, because it is given 
without any legal consideration. In order to 
complete the sale there must be a transfer of the 
horse or a memorandum of the agreement or the 
payment of earnest money, for which the least sum 
is sufficient. No verbal promise is binding 
without one of these. But the moment one of 
these is effected the legal transfer is made, and 
whatever happens to the horse afterwards, the 
seller retains or is entitled to the money. 

If the horse should be discovered to have been 
unsound at the time the warranty was given, the 
buyer may tender a return of him, and, if he is not 
taken back, he may bring an action for the price. 
But the seller is not bound to rescind the contract 
unless he has agreed to do so. 

The animal should be tendered at the house or 
stable of the dealer, and if he refuses to receive 
him, he may be taken to a livery stable and sold, 
and the purchaser may then bring action for the 
difference in the price. It is not nesessary, how- 
ever, to return the horse as soon as the unsound- 
ness is discovered, the animal may be kept for a 
reasonable time afterwards, and even proper med- 



34 

ical means resorted to, to remove |he unsound- 
ness, but it is better to return the horse as soon 
as the unsoundness is discovered. The purchaser 
may Hke the horse notwithstanding his discovered 
detects, in which case he may retain him and bring 
action for the depreciation in value on account of 
the unsoundness. 

^ ^When no warranty is given, a person may bring 
action on the ground of fraud, but this is rather 
difficult to maintain, consequently not often done. 

If a person buys a horse warranted sound, and 
discovers no defects in him and resells him, and 
the second purchaser discovers the unsoundness 
and brings action against the first purchaser, the 
latter has claim on the first seller, and may demand 
of him, not only the price of the horse, but any ex- 
pense that may have been incurred. 

When one horse is given in exchange for another, 
or a sum given in addition by one of the parties, 
the law is the same as in simple sales, if a warranty 
is given and is broken, an action may be main- 
tained. Where no warranty is given, deceit must 
be proven. 



35 

Glanders, 

Without entering upon the various details of this 
disease, I will simply say that it has long been the 
scourge of this noble race of animals. But that 
the prevalence of this disease might be greatly 
diminished is undeniable, were the means of detec- 
tion known to the public. For who, knowing an 
animal to be infected with this most loathsome 
disease, would allow it to drag out an existence 
on or about his premises, to the danger of all his 
other stock, or even of his life, and that of all others 
who may come in contact with it. 

I shall, therefore, in treating of this disease, pur- 
sue my course slowly and cautiously ; trusting 
that the reader will carefully study the following 
symptoms, as he should consider no time lost that 
is spent in carefully ascertaining the exact manner 
in which this disease makes its appearance. 

The earliest symptom of Glanders is an increas- 
ed discharge from the nostrils, small in quantity, 
constantly flowing, and of a watery character, 
sometimes a litde mucus mingling with it. It 
must be borne in mind that in this stage the dis- 
charge is entirely free from any gluey or sdcky 



36 

properties which are so commonly supposed to 
exist in all the stages of this disease. It is in this 
stage , when, if ever a cure might be effected, and 
when, too the mischief from contagion is most fre- 
quently produced. 

A horse may be in the highest condition, but, 
should this small watery and constant discharge be 
discovered, it must be considered as a very suspi- 
cious circumstance, which should be in nowise 
overlooked. There is also another and curious 
circumstance connected with this disease, for which 
no satisfactory account is given, that when one 
nostril alone is attacked, it is in a great majority 
of cases the near or left. 

The discharge in cases of infection may con- 
tinue, and in so slight a degree as to be hardly 
perceptible, for many months, or even one or two 
years, unattended by any other disease, even ul- 
ceration up the nostrils, and while yet the horse is 
decidedly glandered from the beginning, and capa 
ble of propagating the malady. 

The second stage is known by a similar dis- 
charge, still retaining its clear appearance, but 
becoming gluey and sticky, and, to a slight degree 



f 



37 

the hair and part over which it flows become 
incrusted, it subsequently adheres to the margin of 
the nostril, and then in the transparant watery 
fluid may be seen opaque threads of white mucus. 
When this mucus is discharged some of it becomes 
absorbed, and the neighboring glands become 
affected. If there is discharge from both nostrils, 
the glands under the jaw, on both sides, will be 
enlarged, if from one nostril the swollen glands 
will be found on that side alone. 

Glanders, however, will frequently exist without 
these swollen glands, and some other diseases, such 
as catarrh, will produce them, then we must look 
for some peculiarity about these glands, and we 
shall readily find it. The swelling may be at first 
somewhat large and diffused, but the surrounding 
enlargement soon wears off, and one or two small 
distinct glands remain adhering closely to the jaw 
on the affected side. The membrane of the nose 
should now be examined, it will either be of a dark 
purplish hue, or almost of a leaden color, or, of 
any color, between the two, if there is some of the 
redness of inflammation, it will have a purple tinge, 
but there will never be the faint, pink blush of 



38 

health, or the intense vivid red of usual inflamma- 
tion. Small, ragged-edged ulcers will also appear 
on the membrane of the nose. And these com- 
plete the symptoms in the second degree. 

If the discharge issuing from the nostrils, in these 
deceptive cases, arises from a cold, upon its being 
dropped into water it will soon rise to the surface 
and float, but if from glanders it will sink. The 
symptoms by which the third and fourth stages 
are known, need simply to be mentioned. 

The losing of flesh ; tucking up of the belly ; 
loss of appetite ; loss of strength ; enlargement 
of the ulcers up the nostril, accompanied by a 
fetid discharge and loss of the hair. This disease 
at this stage is too well known to need any 
comment by me, as it is principally on the first 
and second stages that purchasers are deceived. 



41 



GLOSSARY. 



Points of a Horse, 



I 


Forehead. 


24 


Dock. 


2 


Face. 


25 


Sheath. 


3 


Nose. 


26 


Elbow. 


4 


Muzzle. 


27 


Girth. 


5 


Jaw. 


28 


Barrel. 


6 


Throat. 


29 


Ribs. 


7 


Point of the Shoul'r 


30 


Quarter. 


8 


Chm. 


31 


Thigh. 


9 


Neck. 


32 


Stifle, 


10 


Breast. 


33 


Ham-String. 


II 


Shoulder. 


34 


Point of the Hock 


12 


Withers, 


35 


Hock. 


13 


Arm. 


36 


Spavin-place. 


14 


Fore-arm. 


37 


Curb-place. 


15 


Fore4eg. 


38 


Fetlocks. 


16 


Knee. 


39 


Small Pasterns. 


17 


Cannon-bones. 


40 


Large Pasterns. 


18 


Poll. 


41 


Coronet. 


19 


Crest. 


42 


Hoof. 


20 


Back. 


43 


Heels. 


21 


Loin. 


44 


Mane. 


22 


Hip. 


45 


Flank. 


23 


Croup. 







42 

Canker. — This consists in a separation of the 
horn fron the sensitive part of the foot. It is usu 
ally caused by a bruise, puncture or a corn. 

Crib Biting. — Consists in resting the upper 
incisor teeth against any solid substance and then 
violently extending the neck, when by a convul- 
sive action of the throat, a slight grunting sound 
is heard accompanied by a sucking in of the air. 
To ascertain if a horse is a Cribber examine the 
upper incisor teeth, and if they are worn away on 
their outer edge, the horse cribs. 

Curb. — An enlargement at the back of the 
hock three or four inches below its point. It is 
caused by a sudden action of the limb or by a 
sudden check in the gallop. Horses with hocks 
turned inwards are most liable to spring curbs. 

Fistulous Withers. — A very tender tumour 
on the withers, caused by continual pressure of 
the saddle on the back or from an injury. 

Grogginess. — A peculiar knuckling of the fet- 
lock joint and sometimes a tottering of the whole 
foreleg caused by over exertion or frequent and 
severe sprains. 



43 

Grease. — An inflammation of the skin of the 
heels looking at first red, dry, and scurfy, but soon 
becoming a mass of soreness and ulceration. 

Poll Evil. — A hot, tender and painful swell- 
ing on the poll caused by very tight reining, a 
blow, or by hanging back in the stall and bruising 
the part with the halter. 

Pumiced Foot. — Consists in the falling back 
of the coffin bone on the sole of the foot being the 
result of an elongation or partial separation of the 
little horny plates of the sensitive part of the 
foot. It is usually caused by severe inflammation 
or by much battering of the feet on the pavement. 

QuiDDiNG. — The act of partially chewing the 
food and then allowing it to fall from the mouth. 
Sore throat or irregularity of the teeth are its usual 
causes, 

QuiTTOR. — A sore resulting from tread or over- 
reach. It may also be the result of any wound to 
the foot, or to any part of it, causing the secretion 
of pus followed by ulceration. 

Ring-bone. — A deposit of bony matter in one 
of the pasterns. It is usually near the joint. 
When spread it involves not only the pastern-bones. 



44 

but also the cartilages of the foot, going around 
the pastern and the cartilages and from this circum- 
stance it derives its name. 

Sand-Crack. — A division of the hoof from above 
downward, into which sand and dirt insinuate them- 
selves. Hence its name. In examining for sand- 
crack look well to the inner quarter of the foot, 
for some low dealers neatly cover a sand-crack with 
wax or tar, and then by oiling the hoof so entirely 
conceal the injury that an incautious person might 
easily be deceived. 

Thrush. — A discharge of offensive matter from 
the cleft of the frog, it is caused by inflamation of 
the lower or sensitive frog during which pus is 
thrown out together with, or instead of horn. 

Thorough-Pin. — A round sweUing above the 
hock and situated between the tendons thus pro- 
jecting on both sides of the hock, caused by hard 
work and over exertion. 

Wind-Galls. — Are enlargements which are 
usually found in the neighborhood of the fetlock 
joints they are the result of hard work, or sprains, 
undue pressure on the part. 



ooo^lSR 



